Martyn, John (Virgil)

Publii Virgilii Maronis Georgicorum Libri Quatuor. The Georgicks of Virgil, with an English Translation and Notes. [1746]

London: T. Osborne, 1746. 2nd translated edition, octavo, full leather binding, professionally restored with new leather spine, (raised bands, leather title label with gilt-stamped title and year). Title page printed in red and black, ten plates (of which three are folding) including a folding double hemisphere world map by B. Cole, engraved headpieces and tailpieces to the four books, pp xvi,487, (4), (x), ii. Small scrapes to the original boards, corners rubbed. Previous owner's signature front endpaper, some underlinings and annotations in text. Closed tear to the folding Citron tree plate. Very good condition.

An attractive copy of the second edition of John Martyn's translation. John Martyn (1699 - 1768) was a botanist: he was appointed Professor of Botany at Cambridge University and was a Fellow of the Royal Society of London. His scholarly background in botany is shown in his extensive notes to his translation of the Georgics of the Latin poet Virgil (composed c. 29BCE), which are focused upon the natural and agricultural world. The Georgics (and ideas about rustic life in general) became popular in the eighteenth century. Complete with all plates. Also present is the double hemisphere fold-out map by Bernard Cole showing very early detail of the Western Australian coast as well as Tasmania in 1746. Item #105310

Price (AUD): $700.00   Other currencies